PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat
Kathy Mellott
kmellott@tribdem.com
JOHNSTOWN — The Tribune-Democrat is counting down the top stories of 2013, as determined by voting by newsroom employees. One story will appear each day in print and e-editions between now and the end of the year.
Readers can vote for their choice for the top story at www.tribdem.com/beststories.
A highly respected Roman Catholic high school, its alumni and students were rocked in January after it was learned that one of its beloved former instructors and friend to many had sexually molested what appears to have been nearly 100 people.
News hit the Johnstown area in mid-January that Franciscan friar Brother Stephen Baker had been accused of molesting male students at John F. Kennedy High School in Youngstown, Ohio, two decades ago. Church officials there reached a financial settlement with 11 of those accusers and all eyes turned toward Bishop McCort Catholic High School.
Baker came to Johnstown from Youngstown in 1992 and stayed through 2001. He was known by students as a religion teacher, but left his mark on mostly male athletes because he was a part of the athletic department.
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